Old Potatoes

Old Potatoes

READ: ISAIAH 55:9; ROMANS 8:28-39; 11:33-36 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ISAIAH%2055%3A9%3B%20ROMANS%208%3A28-39%3B%2011%3A33-36&version=NIV] “I’m not going to make you take out any stinky potatoes this time.” My grandma laughed as my sisters and I entered her house to help with some chores. I smiled. I was okay with the smelly task we’d done before—and all the jokes that had come from it. Growing up, I would join my siblings in helping my grandparents care for their home. One time, that required me and my sister to take some potatoes that had gone bad out to the garbage. Those potatoes smelled, and my grandma was pretty embarrassed about it. The task wasn’t a fun one, but we got it done. For weeks afterward, my grandma would joke when we arrived— she knew nothing we did after that would be quite as disgusting. The potatoes might have been stinky, and they might have gone bad, but they gave me many good memories. The task of taking them out and cleaning up after them wasn’t fun, but some of my best memories of my grandma have to do with her laughing over them. As I was thinking about this the other day, I realized that sometimes God gives us gifts that don’t seem like gifts at first. Sometimes we face something difficult—or have to deal with something gross—and it isn’t until later that we see how God blessed us as He brought us through it. The potatoes might be a silly example, but I know that God works in ways we don’t always understand. Sometimes we end up on a funny path, and that’s how He shapes us. Remember, we never walk those paths alone. Jesus is always with us, even when we deal with difficult or gross things. And in the end, we might be surprised when we end up being blessed with good memories. • Emily Acker • Can you think of a time you went through something difficult or gross, and then in hindsight you saw how God brought blessing out of it—maybe even through community or humor? Consider taking a moment to thank Him for this! • What are some of the rotten potatoes in your life right now? Are there any ways you’ve seen God bring good out of these situations, or are you still waiting? (Remember, sometimes we won’t see the good until Jesus returns, but we can know that God is always at work.) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Shining in the Darkness

READ: PSALM 27:1; JOHN 1:1-5; 8:12; 16:33; COLOSSIANS 1:11-22 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PSALM%2027%3A1%3B%20JOHN%201%3A1-5%3B%208%3A12%3B%2016%3A33%3B%20COLOSSIANS%201%3A11-22&version=NIV] How do you detect a fake? The best way to spot counterfeits is to be intimately familiar with the real thing. Based on this idea, the United States government offers an online currency education program so the public can study the security features of various bills. The better acquainted a person is with the real currency, the less likely they will be deceived by fakes. Studying original currency allows us to detect counterfeits. In the same way, when we grow in our relationship with Jesus by studying the truth of the Bible, God’s Word, we learn to detect Satan’s lies. In a world rife with terror, oppression, deception, and injustice, it can be so easy to fall into believing lies—counterfeit truths that say darkness and evil have overcome. Yet, the opening verses of the book of John remind us that Jesus, the Word, was present at the beginning of the world, and He is with us still: “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5). The better acquainted we are with Jesus, the Light, the more we understand His power over sin and evil. As we pray and read the Bible—both individually and with other believers—the Holy Spirit deepens our understanding of the good news of Jesus Christ. With this understanding, we are less likely to be deceived by the appearance of evil’s dominance. Jesus has already defeated sin, death, and the devil through His own death and resurrection! Whatever darkness we encounter, the Light of the world shines through. He will always overcome it. • Remi Oyedele • Have you ever spotted a counterfeit? The devil is the father of lies, and he uses counterfeits all the time (John 8:44). He tries to trick us into believing that darkness is winning because he wants us to fall into despair. And these lies can be so sneaky, often we don’t even realize we’re believing them. Thankfully, God has given us His Word, His Spirit, and His people to help us. Who are trusted Christians in your life who can remind you of the gospel (the good news of Jesus) and help you identify lies you might be believing? (For more about the gospel, see our "Know Jesus [https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/]" page.) • The best way to guard ourselves against the enemy’s counterfeits isn’t by studying the lies—it’s by spending time with Jesus and resting in His love. How could you set aside time for this today? The light [Jesus] shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5 (NIV)

Surrender

READ: PSALM 46; MATTHEW 11:28-30 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=PSALM%2046%3B%20MATTHEW%2011%3A28-30&version=NIV] Holding, grasping tightly, Hands clenched, Heart clenched, Tightly. Out of fear, mistrust. Must not lose what I worked to get. Earned? Or received? Too tight, can hardly breathe, I need to exhale, need to breathe. Need. Stuffed up, stopped up, Losing it all anyway. So, I pry my fingers away, One by one, loosening up. Opening up. Heart unclenched, Hands unclenched, Exhaling, breathing. Release, relief. Surrender. • Allison Wilson Lee • Can you think of a time you felt like today’s poem? What circumstances in life have been causing you to feel restless or anxious lately? Jesus knows what that feels like. He lived among us in this broken world, and He faced the terrible anxiety and anguish of the cross, all to make the way for us to be with Him forever. We can always turn to Him in our moments of restlessness and anxiety. He loves us, and He invites us to surrender our cares into His hands and find rest in His peaceful presence (Psalm 46:10; Isaiah 9:6). Consider taking some time to accept His invitation to be still and sit with Him in prayer, surrendering anything that comes to mind. • God wants to help us in lots of ways—through prayer and Scripture, and also through the care and expertise of other people. When you find yourself feeling worried or anxious, who is a trusted person you could talk to? If you need someone to talk to, you can request a free conversation with Focus on the Family’s Counseling Department by calling 1-855-771-HELP (4357) weekdays from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Mountain Time). Please be prepared to leave your contact information for a counselor to return a call to you as soon as possible. In Canada, book your appointment by calling 1-800-661-9800 between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Pacific Time). [Jesus said,] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV)

Scared but Willing

READ: MATTHEW 28:18-20; LUKE 12:11-12; 1 PETER 3:15-18 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATTHEW%2028%3A18-20%3B%20LUKE%2012%3A11-12%3B%201%20PETER%203%3A15-18&version=NIV] Recently, I volunteered to help teach at my church’s weeklong Vacation Bible School (VBS). I was super excited to have an opportunity to tell these kids about Jesus, but I was also terrified I’d say the wrong thing. So I prayed as I practiced my lessons every day before I taught. Even though I was scared, God was at work. I enjoyed teaching the kids, and—most importantly—they seemed to be learning more about Jesus. By the last night, I was sad the week was over, but I was glad I had persevered and listened to God instead of my fears. While I didn’t get to see anyone profess faith in Jesus that week, I did get to glimpse a little girl’s awe as she heard for the first time how God made the whole world. I also got to witness a fifth grader’s face as she realized how much pain Jesus went through on the cross. God used VBS to show me that sharing the gospel whenever you have the opportunity is worth it, even if it’s scary (Ephesians 5:16). You never know how He will work through you to share the good news—that God loves us, and through Jesus’s death and resurrection, He offers rescue from sin and death to everyone who puts their trust in Jesus. • Rachel Nissing • Are there any fears that have held you back from sharing the gospel—the good news of Jesus? Consider taking a moment to talk to Jesus about whatever comes to mind. • What are some promises from God and truths about Jesus that could help us when we’re afraid? (Hint: reread today’s Scripture.) • How might God be inviting you to share the gospel in your own life? (For more about the gospel, and how to share it with others, see our "Know Jesus [https://unlocked.org/knowjesus/]" page.) Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV)

Walking in Darkness?

READ: MATTHEW 5:14-16; PHILIPPIANS 2:15-16; 1 JOHN 1:5-7 [https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=MATTHEW%205%3A14-16%3B%20PHILIPPIANS%202%3A15-16%3B%201%20JOHN%201%3A5-7&version=NLT] Every night, after darkness falls, my sister and I don headlamps and head outside to close up our family’s chicken coop for the night. It’s a mundane daily task…but it turns out God loves speaking profound truth through our everyday routines. As we were going out one day, I pushed the button on my headlamp, and it didn’t work. I wasn’t shocked—batteries do die, after all—so I plugged it in. The next day, I put it back on my head, pressed the button, stepped outside, and suddenly…I could see. I saw things in vivid color, and things that were thirty feet away. I was shocked, because I hadn’t had a clue that my flashlight had grown dim—so dim as to be nearly useless. Why did the flashlight have to die for me to realize it had hardly been fulfilling its purpose? When I stepped back into the house and laid my headlamp in its place, it hit me—that light was exactly like we can be as Christians. We often start off bright—on fire for the Lord and feeling very close to Him. But, as time goes on, we may get distracted or discouraged. We may not notice His presence with us as much. Our light fades, and we don’t even notice the difference. It’s often not until I hit the very end of myself that I realize how weak my awareness of God has been. Why do we settle for dim lights when we could be walking in the fullness of what Jesus has for us? He is the light of the world, and He promises we don’t have to walk in darkness. Brothers and sisters, may we choose to pursue the abundant light of His loving presence rather than accepting a dim status quo. • Hannah Ruth Johnson • Jesus loves us so much that He came to give us light through His death and resurrection. Once we’ve put our trust in Jesus, we can know that He is always with us—both in our dim moments and our brightly-lit moments. But our awareness of Him and our enthusiasm toward the gospel may wax and wane throughout our lives. Can you remember a dim season in your life? What was that like? What brought you out of it? • What could you do this week to intentionally pursue Jesus and the light of His presence, remembering that He is already pursuing you? Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 (NLT)